An Onalaska man who accidentally shot his roommate while teasing a cat with the laser sight of his gun has been fined $50 after pleading guilty to a weapons crime.

Vaughn Rothering, 22, will pay a total of $591 including court costs and will be eligible to have the felony conviction expunged.

According to a criminal complaint, Rothering and his roommate were on the porch of their Onalaska home on May 11 when Rothering let their cat chase the laser of his 9mm pistol; he said he was spinning the gun in his hand when it went off and struck his roommate in the ankle.

Prosecutors acknowledged Friday that the incident was an accident.

“I feel terrible about it,” said Rothering, described by his attorney as a “thoughtful, polite and respectful” man preparing to donate a portion of his liver to his mother.