By DEN MCLAUGHLIN

dmclaughlin@tnonline.comA Carbon County man who pointed a loaded gun at a 12-year-old boy was sentenced to a county prison term on Monday.Michael Alan Lauer, 28, of Palmerton was sentenced by Judge Steven R. Serfass to serve six months to one day less 24 months in prison on a charge of simple assault.On a harassment charge he was fined $300. He previously pleaded guilty to the charges.Lauer was arrested by Palmerton police on Aug. 26, 2013, when officers responded to 627 Franklin Ave. to a report of an assault.Lauer admitted pointing a loaded gun at a 12-year-old boy.Police said Lauer became angry when the boy beat him in an electronic game they were playing.Police said there was a "live" shell in the gun at the time.Lauer asked for a probation period. Defense attorney public defender Jennifer Rappa said there was a history of mental health issues in Lauer's family that may have contributed to the incident. She said Lauer didn't go to the home with the intent to harm anyone.Serfass rejected the plea for probation stating the act was "incomprehensible" for Lauer to pull a weapon and point it at a young boy over a video game, then follow him into another room and still point the gun at him.Serfass added, "This is an outrageous act."In addition to the jail term Serfass ordered Lauer to get a mental health evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, attend and complete anger management counseling, pay court costs of about $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee when released on parole.He began the jail term immediately.