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Former Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder was arrested on felony theft and malfeasance charges.

The charges stem from an indictment accusing him of stealing a 1,200-year-old cypress board valued at over $25,000.

Schexnayder denies stealing the artifact, stating he believed it was collected when he left office.

The board was donated to the state in 1955 and was displayed in Schexnayder's legislative office.

Former Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder was arrested Nov. 17 following an indictment accusing him of stealing a cypress board described as "a rare state artifact."

Schexnayder, 56, a Republican from Gonzales, was arrested about 9:30 a.m. after he surrendered to Louisiana attorney general special agents in the parking lot of the East Baton Rouge Par

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