The sweeping criminal conspiracy case against alleged members of the Hilltop Crips street gang withstood assaults from the defendants’ attorneys Thursday.

Defense attorneys had asked Pierce County Superior Court Judge Thomas Felnagle to dismiss the conspiracy charge – the crux of the case against the remaining two dozen suspected gang members.

Felnagle declined to do that but scheduled another hearing for May 21, during which prosecutors and defense attorneys again will argue over the validity of the charge.

Each of the 25 defendants is charged with conspiracy to commit 13 crimes. Most also are charged with a range of other crimes.

Defense attorneys have requested more specifics on the conspiracy allegation and during Thursday’s hearing told Felnagle they haven’t gotten them.

“We are still wondering what our individual clients did,” said Robert Quillian, who is representing Bryant Morgan. “This type of umbrella theory simply cannot stand the scrutiny of fairness.”

Defense attorneys also contended the prosecution’s conspiracy theory is not legal.

Deputy prosecutor Greg Greer argued the state has been providing the defense attorneys with information.

Another suspected member of the Hilltop Crips pleaded not guilty Thursday to a variety of charges stemming from a law enforcement effort aimed at crippling the Tacoma street gang.

Cory T. Campbell, 22, is charged with criminal conspiracy, drive-by shooting, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and three counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. He was ordered jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.

Pierce County prosecutors allege in court documents that Campbell took part in a drive-by shooting that targeted members of a rival gang in September 2009 and also sold drugs to a police informant three times in September and October of last year.

Authorities believe Campbell and other suspected members of the gang conspired to commit dozens of crimes over the past 18 months.

Last week, the South Sound Gang Task Force served search warrants at multiple locations, and prosecutors charged 32 men with taking part in the conspiracy and committing other crimes. More…