NEW ORLEANS — A grand jury on Wednesday indicted former Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder for felony theft and malfeasance in office for allegedly stealing a rare artifact that had gone missing from the state capitol.

Schexnayder allegedly stole an ancient cypress board worth more than $25,000 that had been on display in the Louisiana state Capitol building for decades. The felony theft charge can carry a sentence of up to 20 years or a $50,000 fine.

The Times Picayune-Advocate reported in September that Schexnayder had taken the board from the capitol more than a decade ago to display in his legislative office in Gonzales, Louisiana.

Schexnayder did not respond to text and phone messages from The Associated Press seeking comment on his indictment. He previously told The Time

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