Could anything bad come from being friends with this guy?

[Anonymous]

I asked as similar question, and but didn't get much input. Anyways, I've been friends with this guy since 2009. He's 27, and im 29. Recently be told me that he was feeling very guilty, and depressed. I asked why, and he said he dated an 11/12 year old when he was 18/19. He said he told His therapist. Im at least 96-99% sure he told me this. I asked him about it several days ago, and asked if im remembering right. He said "no", and that was the end of it. He texted me yesterday and asked how my new years was. I ignored him, but I hate ignoring people. I want to be his friend since he seems to deeply regret what he's done, but mostly everyone on reddit is telling me not to be his friend. What's the worst that could happen? I'm not afraid to be around him or anything. Would my being his friend somehow condone the behavior? Maybe I shouldn't have said this, but when he told me this, i said "well, as long as you know it was wrong, and you never do it again, then we are good". What do you think?

[ManOnFire]

Being honest? I think he is probably a pedophile, or at least leans that way. And him changing the story saying "no" is him wanting to hide what he told you now. An 18 year-old has no business 'dating' an 11 year-old. He sees a therapist for a reason, probably to try to work through his pedophilia.

I don't think anything bad could happen to you for being his friend, but you have to ask yourself if you're okay being friends with a guy like that. Are you comfortable with that? For all you know, he could've abused - or tried to abuse - kids that you have absolutely no idea about.

[Asker]

I see what you're saying man. There may be a lot that I don't know, but im not even 100% he told me all of this. I mean, I'm pretty positive he did, and I would feel like a jerk for cutting him off based on something that may not even be true. I mean, what If by a small chance I'm not even remembering correctly?

[Asker]

I'm guessing his "no" was him trying to deny it like you said, just in case I was trying to gather evidence or something, but what if that "no" was genuine?

[ManOnFire]

But what gives you doubt in your memory? Why do you feel uncertain about what he said?

[Asker]

Well, when I say "recently", it was more like a year ago. Maybe a little more. I know that's probably not recent to a lot of people. So it's kind of hard to remember all of the details from a brief conversation we had around a year ago.

[ManOnFire]

Hmm. Well, I would just be careful with him. But it sounds like you're more sure than not. I would try to beat around the bush with him and try to find a way to maybe get him to slip up and say something.