Former Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Monday after surrendering on felony charges.

Schenxnayder was accused of taking a rare ancient cypress board, valued at more than $25,000, from the Louisiana State Capitol, where it had been on display for decades.

Schexnayder previously told The Times-Picayune he had permission to remove the board, though other officials have disputed that. The artifact has not yet been recovered, according to Attorney General Liz Murrill.

“You don't get to keep state property, it doesn't belong to you,” Murrill said in a statement.

Schexnayder, a Republican, served as House Speaker from 2020 to 2024, representing parts of Livingston and St. James parishes. He also ran unsuccessfully for Louisiana se

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