VISTA -- An ex-con hired to care for an elderly, vision-impaired Encinitas couple admitted Friday that she stole their house.

Gina Trevino, 48, pleaded guilty to theft of real property from an elder by a caretaker and agreed to an eight-year prison term. The plea deal, however, is contingent on co-defendant Robert Holman also pleading guilty at a hearing next week.

After a preliminary hearing last month, Judge Joan Weber told Trevino she was "one of the worst con artists and liars" she had ever seen.

According to witness testimony, Trevino was hired to take care of Pat and Dorothy Torano in January 2006 when the 89-year-old male victim came home from the hospital after suffering a stroke.

Pat Torano is nearly blind, hard of hearing and suffered a loss of mental acuity after the stroke. His wife is blind and is believed to be as old as 99.

The woman eventually acquired power of attorney for the Toranos and used it to obtain numerous credit cards under their names, which were used to buy two cars. She eventually convinced the Toranos to sign over the title to their house, witnesses said.