Former Cuyahoga Falls High School counselor Rebecca Sparrow enters Summit County Common Pleas Court for sentencing Jan. 28. [Mike Cardew/Beacon Journal file photo] ▲ Rebecca Sparrow reads a statement during her Jan. 28 sentencing on a charge of sexual battery of a high school student. [Mike Cardew/Beacon Journal file photo] ▲

A former Cuyahoga Falls High School counselor sentenced to prison for the sexual battery of a 17-year-old male student will have the chance to explain why she thinks she should be released early.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Amy Corrigall Jones has scheduled a hearing for Rebecca Sparrow's early-release request for 1 p.m. Nov. 5. She ordered Sparrow transferred from prison back to Summit County for the hearing.

Sparrow, 38, pleaded guilty last November to one count of sexual battery, a third-degree felony. Jones sentenced Sparrow to two years in prison in January. She had faced up to five years.

Sparrow, who has served about nine months, told Jones in her early-release request that she realizes she is to blame for her actions.

"I accept full responsibility for my actions and wish I could go back and change them," she wrote.

Prosecutors say the student was referred to Sparrow in 2016 because his parents were going through a divorce and he had expressed suicidal thoughts. Instead of helping the student, prosecutors say, Sparrow repeatedly had sex with him.

Mike Callahan, Sparrow's attorney, said his client has had no infractions during her time in prison and has completed several programs. She has no prior criminal record.

Assistant Prosecutor Felicia Easter said she thinks Sparrow should spend more time behind bars. Easter, though, said she wouldn't object if Jones brought Sparrow back from prison to allow her to speak. Easter said she wants to hear directly from Sparrow whether she is remorseful.

Sparrow is incarcerated at the Northeast Reintegration Center in Cleveland.

Jones designated Sparrow a Tier 3 sex offender. This means Sparrow will be required to register her address every 90 days for the rest of her life.

The student hasn't appeared in court. He has told prosecutors he wants to move on with his life.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705, swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj.