A district court judge candidate in western Kansas paid a fine to settle a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge filed against him in Michigan nine years ago.

Attorney Michael Giardine says he flew to Michigan to settle the case Monday. Giardine, a Republican seeking the 16th Judicial District seat, says the possession charge was dismissed and he paid a fine for a misdemeanor charge of “disorderly person, jostling.”

He told The Dodge City Daily Globe he was not the person stopped in March 2005 in Lansing, Michigan, when an officer confiscated 5.56 grams of marijuana.

Giardine says he was unaware of the case until last week. He says the outcome of the case depended on the officer’s memory and he didn’t want to risk a drug charge on his record.