A jury in New York found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The Republican leader became the first former president in the history of the United States to be convicted in a criminal case.

This Thursday, May 30, after Judge Juan Merchán issued his controversial instructions on Wednesday, the jury completed its deliberation after asking for two requests from the judge, one with four reviews requested related to the testimonies of Michael Cohen and David Pecker; and another for the judge to repeat the instructions.

Once this process was completed, the jury quickly reached a verdict finding Trump guilty on all charges.

What will happen now?

Sentencing

Judge Merchán scheduled the former president's sentencing for July 11 at 10:00 a.m., just four days before the start of the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be formally nominated as the 2024 Republican presidential candidate.

The convention will be held July 15-18 in Milwaukee.

It is important to remember that the conviction does not prevent Trump from running for president.

Jail time is not a given

First, it's important to remember the charges against Trump: all related to the fraudulent recording of a $130,000 payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels in the days before the 2016 election. Since falsifying business records is technically a misdemeanor, the judge explained to the jury that, to find Trump guilty, it was necessary to determine – based on the evidence presented by the Prosecutor's Office – that this problematic record was made with the intention of hiding a second crime: violation of the electoral law.

By this legal theory, all of the charges of which the former president was found guilty are equivalent to class E felonies, that is, the lowest category of felony in the state of New York.

Although many legal experts question the legality of the procedures brought by the Prosecutor's Office represented by Judge Merchán, these discussions will be revealing for the more than certain appeal that Trump's legal team will make.

For now, each charge could theoretically result in up to four years in prison. In total, Trump faces a maximum sentence of 136 years.

However, according to various legal experts, it would be very difficult for the judge to send Trump to jail considering his age (77 years) and that he has no criminal record.

If he opts for a punishment that involves prison time, it is very likely that the judge will impose a simultaneous punishment, a situation that would make the former president serve a simultaneous sentence for each crime and not multiply his time in prison.

Most experts agree that the sentence would range from four years in prison to probation. It should be remembered that the former president has a lifetime detail in the Secret Service, and the logistics of keeping him safe behind bars could be extremely complicated and unprecedented.

Even so, the guilty verdict will not necessarily generate a prison sentence, according to The New York Times.

"Incarceration is not a given: Judge Merchán could instead opt to impose a sentence of probation, with no prison time," the NYT reads. "Mr. Trump would then be required to regularly report to New York City's Probation Department. He could also be jailed immediately if he committed additional crimes."

Judge Merchán will now spend weeks pondering what punishment he will impose. Likewise, the application of any sentence could be delayed.

Even so, before the sentence comes out, there is a lengthy procedure for Trump to follow.

Louis Gelormino, a Staten Island defense attorney, told Fox News Digital that Trump will have to meet with a probation officer who will interview him and prepare a report prior to the judge's sentencing.

That report, which could take weeks to complete, will include a biography of Trump and a recommended sentence that Judge Merchán could ignore if he chooses to.

What other punishments could be applied?

While it is too early to know the potential punishment, the former president could face a simple fine, considering the factors of his age and his lack of criminal record.

If punished beyond a fine, Trump could be placed under house arrest or subject to a curfew instead of jailed, according to Reuters. He could also be released on bail while he appeals his conviction.

What about the appeal?

This could be an extensive process that could take months or even longer, resulting in Trump being labeled “convicted” for the upcoming November elections. In that situation, the NYT explains that Trump would probably remain free until the appeal is resolved. In fact, almost all legal experts agree with this assessment, since it is very difficult for an elderly man who has never been convicted of a previous crime to be sent to prison.