NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A Tennessee Department of Transportation employee has pleaded guilty to soliciting and accepting $30,000 in bribes from a contractor that remains in good standing with the state.

James Douglas Hagar, of Mt. Juliet, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court and his cooperation could result in the reduction of his sentence, expected to be between 18 and 24 months.

According to TDOT documents obtained by The Tennessean, Hagar recommended an increase in work for Kingston Springs-based Lu Inc., which was installing crash cushions along Interstate 65 in Nashville.

Lu Inc. has not been charged by federal prosecutors and is not identified in court documents. The charges allege that Hagar received eight personal checks from the subcontractor and recommended that TDOT increase the number of crash cushions installed.

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