SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The head of the state's Historic Preservation Agency will run the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library temporarily, now that the library's director has been fired.
Rick Beard was fired Tuesday following his second shoplifting arrest.
He was placed on administrative leave last week after The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reported the arrests, but he continued to receive his $250,000 salary.
He was arrested in August and charged with stealing $40 worth of DVDs from a Springfield Target store.
The 61-year-old has pleaded not guilty.
Beard was charged with misdemeanor theft last year after being caught allegedly trying to steal $300 worth of neckties at a Springfield shopping mall. He received six months of supervision in that case, the State Journal reported.
A third possible shoplifting case against Beard is also being investigated.
Jan Grimes, head of the preservation agency, will take over his duties.
