The Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge, LA. Thursday, April 8, 2021. Senate Hearing Lsu 4714

Former Republican Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder has been indicted on a felony theft charge for allegedly stealing a cypress board once displayed in the state Capitol.

Schexnayder, who served three terms in the House including his final four years as speaker, was indicted by a Baton Rouge grand jury in a case brought by Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill. He also was indicted on a charge of malfeasance in office.

"You don't get to keep state property; it doesn't belong to you," Murrill said in a statement to USA Today Network after the indictment was returned Oct. 12.

The indictment describes the cypress board as a "rare Louisiana state artifact." It was displayed in the Capitol until about 12 years ago.

Schexnayder told USA Today Network he thought state officials picked up the board when they collected other state property from his former legislative office in Gonzales two years ago after his final term ended.

"When I left the board was still there; I turned over my keys and never went back into the office," Schexnayder said. "I definitely didn't steal the board."

A family donated the 1,200-year-old cypress board to the state in 1955. It was members of that family who asked Murrill to investigate its disappearance.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Former Louisiana House speaker indicted in theft of 'rare state artifact'

Reporting by Greg Hilburn, Shreveport Times / Shreveport Times

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