Delaware State Police arrested 55-year-old Francis Robinson of Dover on felony DUI and weapons charges following a traffic stop Sunday afternoon in Leipsic.
Police said a trooper stopped a Dodge Dakota on Smyrna Leipsic Road near Front Street at about 2:00 p.m. on April 26, 2026, after seeing the vehicle displaying a registration plate assigned to another vehicle.
Robinson was identified as the driver. During the stop, the trooper observed signs of impairment and saw multiple open beer cans inside the vehicle officials said Monday. Police said they learned Robinson had consumed alcohol shortly before driving and refused to take Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.
A search of the vehicle led troopers to a loaded shotgun. Police said Robinson had five prior DUI-related convictions and was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a previous violent felony conviction. Troopers said the also determined he was driving in violation of a court order and was in possession of about 7.88 grams of suspected marijuana.
Robinson was taken to Troop 9, where troopers obtained a search warrant for his blood. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $83,700 cash bond.
Robinson was charged with possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a violent felony, 6th offense DUI, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited while also possessing a controlled substance, noncompliance with conditions of recognizance bond, possession of a firearm while under the influence, and related traffic offenses.
