Former President Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

The charges stem from an attempt to conceal a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election.

This is the first time that a former US president has faced a criminal conviction. The fact that Trump is also the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee for the 2024 election will also push the race into an uncharted path, according to a report by CNBC.

A sentencing date has been set

Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the case, set a sentencing date for July 11, CNBC reported. Merchan ordered the prosecution and defense to file motions by June 13. Both sides are likely to submit sentencing memorandums, with each side discussing what form Trump’s punishment should take.

Prison is a possibility

The charges against Trump are Class E felonies, the least serious category of felonies under New York law, according to CNBC.

Trump’s punishment could include fines, restitution, probation, or a combination of these things. However, prison is not out of the question, CNBC reported. Class E felonies carry a maximum penalty of four years in prison.

Merchan has broad discretion in determining Trump’s sentence, and can consider a number of factors when making his decision. Some factors, such as Trump’s lack of a prior conviction and his age – 77 – likely favor a lighter sentence.

However, the former president’s behavior during the trial could also be taken into account, according to CNBC. That could spell trouble for Trump, who repeatedly attacked Merchan and violated a gag order throughout the trial.

“Trump violating gag orders, discrediting the proceedings of the court, the judge, or the prosecution — all of that is fair game,” Bennett Gershman, a professor at Pace University School of Law, told CNBC.

However, most experts believe it is unlikely that the former president will face any prison time as a result of his conviction.

Gershman told CNBC that a prison sentence is “certainly reasonable,” but because of the significant challenges that would come with imprisoning a former president, a lesser sentence such as house arrest may be more likely.

Appeal is inevitable

Gershman told CNBC that Trump will certainly appeal the conviction. However, the appeals process is long, and even if the former president can overturn his conviction, he will not be able to do so before Election Day.

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