In this episode of Unpacking Injustice, Montana Innocence Project Legal Director Brady Minow Smith and Intake & Pro Bono Coordinator Charlie McWeeny discuss a major new development in the Aaron Oliphant case.

Aaron was wrongfully convicted in 2016 after doctors claimed his infant son’s injuries were caused by abusive head trauma, often referred to as Shaken Baby Syndrome. Now, MTIP has filed a new post-conviction relief petition presenting newly uncovered medical evidence that challenges the foundation of the prosecution’s case.

In this conversation, Brady and Charlie explain:

• Why Aaron’s original trial attorney failed to provide an adequate defense
• How missing medical records impacted the case for years
• The new expert findings that challenge the prosecution’s timeline and medical conclusions
• How new evidence shows that the injuries are just as likely to be accidental as non-accidental
• The broader national conversation surrounding Shaken Baby Syndrome and abusive head trauma prosecutions
• What could happen next in Aaron’s case

The episode also explores larger questions about expert testimony, ineffective assistance of counsel, and what justice looks like when critical evidence was never presented at trial.

At the center of this case is Aaron Oliphant — a man who has spent years incarcerated while maintaining his innocence, and who is now seeking the opportunity to finally present evidence a jury never heard.

In part two of this conversation, we continue our discussion with Brent Buell, theater producer, director, and longtime facilitator with Rehabilitation Through the Arts at Sing Sing prison.

This episode focuses on reentry and the often invisible barriers that make that transition so difficult. Brent shares what he’s learned from walking alongside people returning home, and we discuss the decision to include the heartbreaking yet deeply informative and realistic parole board scenes in Sing Sing.

He also reflects on the film’s broader impact—how honest storytelling can shift public perception and create space for meaningful, lasting change.

Rehabilitation Through the Arts: https://rta-arts.org

Brent Buell’s website: https://brentbuell.com

Watch Sing Sing (available on Max, Amazon Prime, YouTube)

In this two-part episode of Unpacking Injustice, we sit down with Brent Buell, a theater producer and director who spent over a decade teaching inside Sing Sing prison through Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA).

In part one, Brent shares how theater became a powerful tool for transformation, helping incarcerated individuals build empathy and explore their identities. We discuss the impact of RTA’s work on recidivism and how this journey was brought to life in the 2023 Oscar-nominated film Sing Sing, starring Coleman Domingo.

This is part one of a two-part conversation. Be sure to come back next week for part two!

Rehabilitation Through the Arts: https://rta-arts.org

Brent Buell’s website: https://brentbuell.com

Watch Sing Sing (available on Max, Amazon Prime, YouTube)