Probably in Merchan's mind, Trump would have lost if not for the NDA to Stormy Daniels, so he deserves prison for stealing the election, even if he can't state that directly.
I'm hoping for no jail time (unlikely), or Trump can remain free while the case is being appealed, or that if Merchan does order prison immediately, the Supreme Court will get involved immediately. But at this point it is hard to guess what will happen.
The Democrats and the media live in a bubble where everyone agrees with them, so they have no idea of how the public in general would react to Merchan ordering Trump to prison on such B.S. grounds.
The whole case is a sham. The story had been out for years before the election. Any effect on the election was already factored in. The bill was for a group of legal services and however it had been identified it would not have been shared with the federal oversight i=util after the election. Non story...law-fare..prosecutorial and judicial malpractice.