NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A former Nashville police officer who also was a Teamsters organizer was sentenced to 10 months in prison for breaking into a children's camp to set up cameras to discredit members of a rival union.

Calvin Hullet, 45, was arrested in 2007 after authorities learned that he had installed cameras at the camp, which was operated by the Fraternal Order of Police. At the time, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the FOP were competing to represent Nashville police officers at the bargaining table.

Investigators said Hullet was trying to catch Metro officers drinking after-hours at the camp.

He said in court on Monday, "I was stupid. I was stupid."

After an emotional plea, he admitted he placed the surveillance equipment at the camp, but did not do it for his own personal gain. He did admit the controversy between the FOP and Teamsters was a factor in installing the cameras.

Hullet has been banned from any further union activity.

"Mr. Hullet made a poor decision. (His) motivation was dual, part political, part concern over the children. He made a very poor decision. What started out really should have been a simple trespass case has ended him up with 10 months in a federal penitentiary," said his attorney, Allen Poindexter.

Hullet said this surveillance was approved at the highest level of the Teamsters in Washington D.C., but there was no evidence of that presented at the court hearing held on Monday.

Earlier, former Shelby County deputy Joe Everson pleaded guilty to lying to investigators in connection with the incident.

Reporter Nancy Amons contributed to this story.