Overview
- An East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury on Wednesday charged Schexnayder with felony grand theft of more than $25,000 and malfeasance in office.
- Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said state property cannot be kept, and her office confirmed the artifact has not been recovered.
- The item is described in reporting as an ancient cypress board long displayed at the State Capitol and valued at more than $25,000.
- Schexnayder has said he had permission to take the board and that he left it when he vacated his Gonzales office, a claim other officials dispute.
- The felony theft charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years or a $50,000 fine; Schexnayder served as House speaker from 2020 to 2024.