Dover Man Faces Multiple Felony Charges After Traffic Stop Reveals Loaded Shotgun and Sixth DUI Arrest

State of DE - A Dover man is behind bars after Delaware State Police say a routine traffic stop in Leipsic turned into a serious criminal investigation Sunday afternoon.

Francis Robinson, 55, was arrested on April 26, 2026, around 2:00 p.m. after a trooper pulled over a Dodge Dakota on Smyrna Leipsic Road near Front Street. The stop was initiated after the trooper noticed the truck was displaying a registration plate that belonged to a different vehicle.

When the trooper made contact with Robinson, he observed signs of impairment. Multiple open beer cans were visible inside the vehicle, and Robinson admitted he had been drinking before getting behind the wheel.

Robinson refused to take any Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. He was arrested without incident at the scene.

During a search of the vehicle, troopers found a loaded shotgun inside the truck. A background check revealed Robinson has five prior DUI convictions, making this his sixth offense. He is also prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous violent felony conviction.

Troopers also discovered Robinson was driving in violation of a court order that prohibited him from operating a vehicle. He was additionally found to be in possession of approximately 7.88 grams of suspected marijuana.

Robinson was transported to Troop 9, where troopers obtained a search warrant for a blood draw. He was then arraigned through Justice of the Peace Court 11.

He now faces a lengthy list of charges, including several felonies. Those charges are listed below.

• Possession of a Firearm if Previously Convicted of a Violent Felony (Felony)

• 6th Offense Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (Felony)

• Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (Felony)

• Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited Who Also Possesses a Controlled Substance (Felony)

• Noncompliance with Conditions of Recognizance Bond or Conditions (Felony)

• Possession of a Firearm while Under the Influence

• Related Traffic Offenses

Robinson was committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $83,700 cash bond.

This case is a reminder that Delaware law enforcement takes impaired driving seriously, especially for repeat offenders. A sixth DUI charge in Delaware carries significant prison time and is treated as a felony offense.

Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.