Illegal relationship?

I've been talking to this guy for a couple of months, and he's been the sweetest guy to me. I noticed today that he was acting weird so I asked him what was up. He told me he thought we should just be friends because he's 18 and I'm 17 and he doesn't want to get in trouble. He's had two friends go to jail for being with a younger girl, and he is quite frankly paranoid. I understand where he's coming from, but I'm not planning on having sex with him any time soon, we've only kissed once. Should I accept this and be his friend, or is there something I can say to ease his fear?

Your profile states that you live in florida. so if he is only 18 there is no law saying you 2 cant have sex. it would only be illegal if he was 24 years old or older

"Florida
The age of consent in Florida is 18, but close in age exemptions exist. By law, the exception permits a person 23 years of age or younger to engage in legal sexual activity with a minor aged 16 or 17."

so there is no problem even if you 2 go at it like rabbits

I actually live in Georgia, though. Sorry for that.

Well I am fine with practicing abstinence, and I talked to him about it and he doesn't have a problem with that either. There's nothing illegal about us dating, however, he seems to think that someone might make something up about us doing something and he could get in trouble for it even if we deny it just because we are dating. I honestly am not sure if my parents would press charges or not. I don't want to be single for this next 6 months just because I'm jail bait. :/

My parents already know about him, we've been to the movies together and whatnot. I'm not hiding anything. He is just being paranoid. I talked to him today and he rethought it and decided it's okay if we date. I'll be 18 in six months. I don't think there will be a problem. Thanks for the answers.

Why dont you look up the age of consent in your state first. it is also 16 in georgia
"Georgia

The age of consent in Georgia is 16 as specified by Section 16.6.3 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

Also stated in the Criminal Code of Georgia 16.6.3 subsection (c), if a person is "at least 14 but less than 16 years of age and the person convicted of statutory rape is 18 years of age or younger and is no more than four years older than the victim, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor."

I did not read it but he did, so maybe he read it wrong? Thank you for the clarification!

Yes, I asked a friend of mine yesterday who took a class like that and she said she learned all the state laws and said it was fine. Again, thank everyone for the responses. I'll be sure to be out right with my parents about this.

Why don't you read all the posts, then you'll see that we've stated it's not illegal at all. Learn how to spell/talk properly while you're at it.

"Why don't you read all the posts, then you'll see that we've stated it's not illegal at all. Learn how to spell/talk properly while you're at it."

^That last post made me lol.

But anyway. I have a different take on the situation. (It's been cleared up now) but I wouldn't see how a relationship between a 17 and 18 year old would be illegal, especially when you're turning 18 in 6 months.

Maybe he has other reasons for saying this.. Perhaps he's trying to let you down easy? Or maybe it is genually (sp?) just worry about you being jailbait? I just thought I'd might shed a different light onto the situation. Either way, I hope it works out for you. :)

How old were these other girls his friends had been dating? How old were they? I'm curious.

I agree with Miz. I don't see how a relationship between a 17 and 18 year old could be illegal when your turning 18 in 6 months, haven't been and don't plan to be intimate with him anytime soon and if your parents are okay with it. I don't think the law or police can do anything about it if you haven't done anything yet and if your parents are okay with it. Besides a year, or even less, of an age difference I don't think anyone is going to make it a big deal. But I could be wrong, like Amanda said the state appears to take it seriously, however we don't know how much of an age difference between his friends and the girls were (which is why I asked). That's just my personal opinion.

However, if your parents are against it you should respect their decision, their within both their legal and parental rights. Although, you said that they know that the two of you spend time together and that you don't hide your relationship, I highly doubt they don't know what's going on. If they haven't said anything or done anything I don't think they disapprove. But then again they could be oblivious to it. In any case, whether they do or do not approve, if they even know and since you don't know whether they would or not, you should talk to them about wanting to be a relationship with him and about your worries.

Like previously said, it sounds to me too like he's trying to let you down easy or he is generally worried. And with good reason to be, with two of his friends already in jail. "Should I accept this and be his friend, or is there something I can say to ease his fear?" You could swear up and down till your blue in the face, however it's his choice whether he wants to be in a relationship with you or not, you have no say in that.

I honestly don't think either one of you completely know what the law states. You're taking other peoples words for it. You said that perhaps he read or heard it wrong, well your friend could have too. I don't know what it is myself. If I were you, I'd be doing the research myself or talking to my parents.

This statement made by you: "I don't want to be single for this next 6 months just because I'm jail bait. :/" tells me that you're not committed to him. It's ONLY 6 months for crying out loud! Be patient. Wouldn't you rather have him as a friend than not at all? And what's so wrong about being single? Like Amanda said, it's always worth the wait. If he still wants to be in a relationship with you and you him then go for it.

Exactly. And I think it's even less than an age difference of a year, she'll be 18 in six months. I doubt anyone's going to press charges or that it's a big deal. If she were 14 and he 18 then perhaps. Which is why I ask what the age difference between his friends and the girls they were dating were, I highly doubt that the girls were her age and the guys his age and they went to jail for only a year age difference. Either his friends were the same age or older and the girls younger.

I have already thought about what you said about him wanting to let me down easy being a possibility, but he was the one who originally started talking about dating, I had told him no at first though. In any case, we've thought and talked about it and agreed that'd we'd be better off as friends, and I'm fine with this. Thanks for everyone's input.

Ii thiink at least he's telling you a real reason to what he's saying and not lyiing about iit....but ii thiink you should try to ease his paranoiid attiitude...and iif iit doesn't work don't push iit just accept iit and be hiis friiend.

It's weird, we talk like we're dating but we're not. Haha. But yeah, we've decided that we are going to wait out the six months and if we still feel the same when I turn 18, we can officially date.