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In a historic decision, the jury in Donald Trump's hush money trial found the former president guilty of all 34 felony charges of falsifying business records Thursday afternoon.Trump becomes the first president in U.S. history to be convicted of a felony crime. He also still faces three other criminal indictments �� the federal classified documents case, the federal election case and the Georgia election case.The jury's unanimous decision took only about 9.5 hours, after being instructed by Judge Juan Merchan to determine if Trump created a false entry in his company’s records, or caused someone else to do so, with the intent “to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means?”Now that Trump, who pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing, has been found guilty, it begs the question: What happens next?The ball immediately returns to Merchan’s court, and it's solely up to him to decide on a punishment while weighing many factors. Merchan set Trump's sentencing hearing for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be selected as the 2024 GOP nominee for president.Video below: Former Massachusetts AG says Trump likely won't face jail time Trump’s charges �� falsifying business records �� are a class E felony, the lowest level in New York, and carry a maximum prison sentence of four years. Those four-year sentences won’t add up though; each guilty verdict would likely be served concurrently.However, jail time is far from a certain outcome for Trump.First, incarcerating a former president who is the presumptive Republican nominee in the upcoming election and who travels everywhere with the Secret Service would spur unprecedented political and logistical ramifications.“I think the judge would probably not incarcerate him under those circumstances alone,�� Cheryl Bader, a law professor at Fordham University, told The Guardian. “I think a term of incarceration would be logistically very difficult, but also would have political implications that I think Judge Merchan would want to avoid.�� Additionally, this is Trump’s first criminal conviction. For a typical first-time offender facing these charges, a sentence of probation with a potential for fines or community service would probably suffice.Other factors that Merchan will consider in determining Trump's punishment include the defendant’s conduct in court, the overall harm caused by the crime, and the future risk to the public.While the prevailing narrative from legal experts is that Trump will avoid jail time, not everyone is convinced.“I think, knowing most judges in New York, they’re going to want to show that no one is above the law, and therefore he would likely sentence him to a term of incarceration,�� former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Stuart Meissner told Politico. “I don’t think much, but I think it would be included just to show that point.”In any event, Trump's almost assured appeal of the conviction will likely push any sentencing decision back months, if not years. Trump's appeal would first go to the New York Appellate Division’s First Judicial Department. If that court upholds the verdict, Trump could turn to the Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court.During that time, Trump will remain free and continue his presidential campaign. The status of his conviction does not affect his ability to run for or become president, as the Constitution does not prevent convicted felons from assuming the role.